Northumbria graphic design student wins national recognition

A talented graphic design student has won a national award for creating an eye-catching poster that portrays a strong message on workplace safety.  

Laura Watson, who is studying Graphic Design at Northumbria University, won an award from the Worshipful Company of Glovers of London in its annual Art of Gloving Awards – a scheme that recognises the talents of budding young designers around the country.

Student glove design and safety poster design competitions are run annually to encourage practical and innovative glove design, and an awareness of hand protection in an industrial environment. The competitions are sponsored by The Glovers Company and the winners in all categories receive cash prizes, which are presented at a formal luncheon in a City of London Livery Hall.

Laura received £500 for her winning entry, a safety poster that features a broken hand on a yellow background and the message: “handle with care, wear your gloves”.

The 24-year-old, who is from County Durham and has just completed her first year on the Graphic Design BA (Hons) programme, said: “As part of our course we received a brief to develop a poster that would encourage people in the workplace to wear gloves for their own safety.

“I took inspiration from Saul Bass, a prominent American graphic designer who specialised in motion picture title sequences, corporate logos and movie posters. My design is minimalistic and hopefully my message is clear. I also used bright yellow colours to imitate warning signs, the type you would see in an industrial factory.

“It was amazing to win the award. I’m really enjoying my course; the tutors at Northumbria are so approachable and down to earth.”

Laura’s ambition is to complete her studies and forge a career in graphic design.

Ted Carden, Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design at Northumbria University, said: “In her first year in the graphic design course, Laura has become an outstanding design student with an excellent grasp of our design process. Her winning poster entry is smart, engaging and fulfilled the client’s brief admirably. Laura is a student who will undoubtably succeed in her studies and beyond.”

Mark Butler of The Worshipful Company of Glovers said: “We are delighted that Laura has produced this stunning piece of work. She is a deserving winner of our safety poster design award and I’m confident that she’ll go on to have a successful career in graphic design.”